John,

On this day, June 19th, 1865, some of the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. Juneteenth was the end of the beginning of one of the most important undertakings in our nation’s history: the ongoing work of granting full equality and dignity to African Americans.

Working to achieve that equality is especially important here in Minnesota, where we have some of the worst racial disparities in the nation that stand as an unacceptable obstacle to so many Black Minnesotans. We cannot tolerate the current Tale of Two Minnesotas that has our state as one of the best in the nation if you are white and one of the worst if you are Black.

As we celebrate the tremendous progress our nation has made towards racial equality, the ending of the original sin of slavery that was present at the founding of our nation, and the resilience of Black Americans, I ask that my fellow Minnesotans to join me in redoubling our commitment to building a more perfect union for all. We have much to celebrate, but we have just as much work ahead of us to realize our goal of a state and a nation where all are equal.

Thank you,

Ken Martin
Chairman
Minnesota DFL